history
The Unfinished Instruction
On Gaudí, the Sagrada Família, and what happens when the architect dies a century before the building is done.
Collecting The Carts
On bottle deposits, cheap local commercials, projectile-style turkeys, union-busting grocery stores, and the friend of mine who showed me the ropes.
Hooked On Velcro
How Velcro became one of the most important inventions of the 20th century, despite simultaneously gaining an unfashionable reputation.
Tethered
On the freedom that cellular modems gave to consumers—and how mobile companies tried to claw it back during the iPhone era.
A (partial) queer, trans, and non-binary history of Mastodon and the fediverse
Happy Pride! Today, we're digging into the roots of the fediverse - the many queer, trans, and non-binary people who helped build the Fediverse.
Social Gloss
In continuing with our long series of glossary entries, let’s take a look at some online-community-related terms hiding in the archives.
Stirrup Stir-Up
How an experimental take on stirrups—a.k.a. the things you put your feet in while riding on a horse—led to a longstanding debate among historians.
Dead on Archival
Considering the challenges that face shuttered newspapers with decades or even centuries of material to preserve.
Embrace Your Inner Stooge
Considering the cultural role of The Three Stooges, one of the most important comedy troupes in history, in the modern day.
The Internet's First Election
The web wasn't common in 1992, but presidential candidates notably took baby steps toward the internet that year—Ross Perot in a bigger way than most.
Thinking In Parallels
Why do we find historical parallels so interesting for analyzing current events like the coronavirus—and what do they leave out, anyway?
Hindsight Is 2020
The decade’s over, and Tedium is another year older. Here’s some thoughts on the past, future, and preservation amid our fifth anniversary.
A Parade Of Ragamuffins
Before the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade became a New York City icon, another holiday event once took place at the same time. The department store won.
Shear Moonlight
Deep into Queens, there's a business operating 24 hours a day that most wouldn't expect. But in the city that never sleeps, should you expect anything else?
Dual-Pronged
Pondering the staple, and separately, the stapler, as they came together over time to saddle a few stitches and inspire a few tall tales.
Is Blogging Dead?
As some ponder whether the practice of blogging should be seen in the past tense, it may be better to consider what the concept gave us in the first place.
The Disenfranchisement of Paniyas in Kerala
Doing It For Erma
An 1956 book about the early history of automation finally hits digital shelves, thanks to a friend of mine. And its appearance is deliciously ironic.
A Tale of Two Samoas
How quick thinking by a U.S. official saved thousands of lives from disease in an American territory—despite its non-American counterpart being decimated.
Columbus The Enigma
Christopher Columbus, one of our most controversial historic figures, has become more myth than man for one reason: We don’t know what he looks like.
We Nailed It
Fingernail clippers are apparently a relatively recent invention. Did we go through life without an easy way to trim fingernails for thousands of years?
Cutting A Rug
Carpets used to be important cultural artifacts. Now they extend from wall to wall, got shaggy, and are sold via earworm jingles. What a weird evolution.
Lessons From The Video Professor
For more than 20 years, John Scherer’s Video Professor offered instructional videos and discs to make computers accessible to novices. Where did it go?
Live and Let Dye
These days, artificial food coloring is seen as a major health risk—admittedly, for good reason in some cases. But, shockingly, things used to be way worse.
This'll Blow You Away
The hand dryer, after a long period of stagnation, has become a hotbed of innovation in recent years. Who knew sanitation could be so forward-thinking?
A Phone Book For Computers
Before we used the internet to find computer parts, we used Computer Shopper, a magazine that commonly had over 800 pages in a single issue. Really.
A Machine That Gives You Stuff
Vending machines have a long, storied history that dates back to … whaddya mean I can't get my candy bar out of this stupid thing?!
Get Off My Lawn
Lawn mowers are a relatively new phenomenon that made grass-cutting something the average person could do. Before that, it was a game for the elites.
This One's For The Wounded
We haven't had Band-Aids forever—only for the last century or so. So what did we use for bandages before then? Well …
This Land Is My Land
Not everyone recognizes many micronations, but that hasn't stopped people from creating them and keeping them going. Just ask the fine folks of Sealand.
I'm Older Than You'll Ever Be
Becoming the world's oldest person is an immensely tough job, but someone's got to do it. Meet the people who have managed to pull it off.
Take Me Out To The Riot
From \"Disco Sucks\" to a jilted city turning on its own team, baseball riots are among the most entertaining you'll find.
Here’s A Bright Idea
The electric light bulb was one of the greatest inventions ever created, and lighting has only gotten better from there. Enlighten yourself.
You Can't Do That On The Internet
The early Nickelodeon show \"You Can't Do That on Television\" was built for kids, by kids. Trying to re-create it today would only end in tears.
The History of Internet Explorer Hatred
Microsoft's Internet Explorer was one of the earliest things that made tech users really freaking mad. It gave those users something to fight against.
Hay, Blinken!
Abraham Lincoln may be the greatest president ever … in terms of the crazy cultural crap he inspires.
Evolution, Televised
Weird television has a way of sucking you in, remaining appealing despite its oddity. Grown Folks Dancing is only the latest example of a longtime trend.
State of the #SOTU
The State of the Union address wasn't always a big deal. You can credit (or blame) Woodrow Wilson and evolving technology for changing that.
Meet The Internet's First Hater
Before it became cool to dislike things online, a guy named David Mirsky was snarking heavily on Mirsky's Worst of the Web.